England reveal New Zealand winter tour schedule

Andrew Strauss salutes the crowd after his dismissal for 45 yesterday (Getty Images)

England will travel straight from the tour of India to New Zealand next January after the schedule for their trip to the Antipodes was released this morning.

England will meet the Black Caps in three Tests, three one-day internationals and as many Twenty20s in a two-month tour that represents their first trip to New Zealand since 2008.

England's players will fly directly from their five-match ODI tour of India, which finishes in Chandigarh on January 27, before arriving in Auckland two days later.

The announcement ensures that England are due to play in every month until March next year.

After arriving in New Zealand, England's players will have 11 days to prepare for the opening Twenty20 at Eden Park, with two warm-up matches scheduled in between.

Following the limited overs series, the first Test will start on March 6 at Dunedin's University Park - the first time the venue has hosted an England Test since 1966.

The second Test is due to start in Wellington on March 14 before the tour returns to Auckland for the final match beginning on March 22.

England tour of New Zealand:

February 4 - New Zealand XI v England, Cobham Oval, Whangarei (T20 warm-up)

Feb 6 - New Zealand XI v England, Cobham Oval, Whangarei (T20 warm-up)

Feb 9 - First Twenty20 International at Eden Park, Auckland

Feb 12 - Second Twenty20 International at Seddon Park, Hamilton

Feb 15 - Third Twenty20 International at Westpac Stadium, Wellington

Feb 17 - First ODI at Seddon Park, Hamilton

Feb 20 - Second ODI at McLean Park, Napier

Feb 23 - Third ODI at Eden Park, Auckland

February 27-March 2 - NZ XI v England, Queenstown Events Centre (four-day warm-up)

Mar 6-10 - First Test at University Oval, Dunedin

Mar 14-18 - Second Test at Hawkins Basin Reserve, Wellington

Mar 22-26 - Third Test at Eden Park, Auckland

PA